In a move that is sure to ruffle a few feathers in Silicon Valley, Google is set to ban all cryptocurrency advertising and initial coin offerings (ICO's) from June 2018.
The move is part of a new financial product policy set to come into effect from June 2018, and sees all ads about cryptocurrency and related content banned, including...

Affirming its relatively grim guidance from earlier in the year, Billabong's financial results have dropped across the board during the first half.
The surf retailer warned in January that losses would compound during 1H18, and compound they did.
Billabong posted a net loss after tax of $18.4 million for the first half, and its ea...

EXPORTS of Australian wine to mainland China have soared by 63 per cent to a record breaking $848 million in 2017.
China accounted for a third of total exports by value last year, with growth to the Asian powerhouse offsetting declines in exports to the US, UK, and Canada.
Overall, Australian wine exports were worth $2.56 billion in 2...

ACTIVITY in Australia's mining sector is set to accelerate in 2018 according to a recent report from BIS Oxford Economics.
The industry is poised to grow through 2018 and beyond, arguing well for exports and the broader Australian economy, with mining exploration, production, and maintenance are all expected to lift significantly thro...

THE QUEENSLAND Government has announced its latest plan to support Queensland-based businesses through the new 'Buy Queensland' initiative.
The new plan, which will prioritise Queensland goods and services, will apply across all agencies, statutory bodies, and government owned corporations.
The Queensland cabinet has agreed, i...

MEGAPORT Limited (ASX: MP1) has seen its share price rise by almost two per cent following the announcement of strong results for the June 2017 quarter.
The group, who delivers internet connectivity solutions to businesses, saw their revenue for the June quarter increase by 18 per cent compared to the previous quarter to $3.47 million.
...

DATA centre operator NEXTDC (ASX: NXT) has started a bidding war with 360 Capital Group to take over Asia Pacific Data Centre (ASX: AJD) after it launched a fully funded $1.85 a share cash offer for the company.
The takeover bid trumps the offer made by 360 Capital to acquire all the securities in APDC for $1.80 per share.
NEXTDC CEO ...

TO RETAIN the best and brightest employees it sometimes seems like a good idea to offer more money, but recent research suggests that cash doesn't always talk.
A study, commissioned by specialised recruiter Robert Half surveying 160 chief financial officers in Australia, shows more than 94 per cent of Australian CFOs have extended cou...

Westpac Group (ASX: WBC) has entered discussions with property investment group Charter Hall (ASX: CHC) to sell Hastings Management, a global infrastructure-assets business with funds under management of about $14.3 billion.
Charter Hall is considering the purchase of Hastings following the completion of due diligence and regulatory ...

SMALL business owners have been urged to review their payment surcharges ahead of the ban on excessive payment surcharges in force 1st September.
The ACCC recommends small businesses assess their current surcharge models before the law comes into force, which limits the amount a business can charge customers for use of EFTPOS, MasterCard,...

THE BANK LEVY imposed on the so-called 'Big Five' should be extended to include all government-licenced companies with a turnover of $1 billion or more, according to Yellow Brick Road executive chairman Mark Bouris.

Speaking at the launch of 2017 Gold Coast Queensland Small Business Week, Bouris also says the money raised should be us...

ANALYSTS say that the public infrastructure and construction industry has emerged among the clear winners from last Tuesday's budget, as BIS Oxford Economics forecasts imminent major growth across the sector.
Funds allocated from the 2017 Federal Budget will help drive an estimated 30 per cent growth for the industry, which is already...

THE BANK of Queensland (ASX: BOQ) is expected to be a major beneficiary of the Federal Government's bank levy which was introduced in Tuesday's Budget.
The Government levy will raise $1.5 billion a year over the next four years, or around five per cent of the profits from the so-called 'Big Four' which includes Commonwealt...

AGTECH innovation fund SproutX has opened applications for its first accelerator round, backed by $10 million from the venture capital fund it has set up in partnership with Artesian Venture Partners and industry superannuation fund Hostplus.

This follows the SproutX pre-accelerator program, held in late 2016, where 110 startups and entr...

TWO directors of failed Gold Coast funds manager LM Investment Management (LMIM) have been spared further proceedings by the corporate watchdog after it dropped a civil action against them.
However, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is still pursuing the matter against three others, including former CEO Peter Drake (pic...

INTERNATIONAL tourists flocked to Australia in FY16 with the tourism industry growing three times faster than the broader economy.
Figures from Tourism Research Australia show there was a record 7.2 million international visitors in the 12 months to June 30, up 10 per cent on the previous year.
The level of spending grew at a faster r...

ONLINE actions sports retailer SurfStitch (ASX:SRF) endured another day of pain on the stock market as its shares more than halved on news that its annual loss has blown out to $154.7 million.
The FY16 result by the Gold Coast-based company, a former subsidiary of Billabong (ASX:BBG), has been impacted by $99.3 million in goodwill impairm...

SHARES in Australia's largest listed childcare centre operator G8 Education (ASX:GEM) edged lower today after briefly recovering from a $400 million rollercoaster ride in the wake of a disappointing profit result yesterday.
The stock dipped as much as 6 per cent in morning trade, but it was a far cry from the 30 per cent thumping give...

HOUSING developer Villa World (ASX:VLW) has joined the profit rush across the property sector by posting a record $33.7 million profit for FY16.
The result, up 32 per cent from last year, was underscored by an underlying pre-tax profit of $47.2 million which exceeded the company's forecasts and delivered on a strategy that CEO Craig T...

GOLD COAST business Step Ahead Security Services has been slugged with a record fine of $308,000 in Federal Circuit Court for underpaying employees.
Judge Michael Jarrett ordered owner Owen Ivor Jennings to personally back-pay eight security guards a total of $22,779 for work completed over three months in 2014.
The Fair Work Ombudsma...

COMMUTERS are set to benefit from cheaper fares following a major overhaul in south-east Queensland's public transport system.
Under the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares package, single zone travel during peak time will be reduced from $3.35 to $3.20 from next year.
Customers will be able to travel further within a zone, w...

BUSINESS is at the forefront of the 2016 federal budget, with SMEs set to see their company tax rate fall to 27.5 per cent from July 1 this year.
Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the company tax break in his first budget overnight, a further 1 percentage point reduction for small businesses with annual turnover less than $2 million.
...

THE corporate watchdog put a spotlight on the cash loan market when it ordered Nimble Australia to repay borrowers $1.5 million last month over allegations that it was not adhering to responsible lending obligations.
But now the National Credit Providers Association (NCPA) has launched its own offensive against the authorities, blaming lo...

GOLD Coast restaurant operators have been put on notice by the Australian Taxation Office that they could get a knock on the door from its agents as part of a national program that has already targeted Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
The ATO says it will be visiting about 250 restaurants, cafés and take-away shops, as well as hair ...

PAYDAY lender Nimble Australia has been forced to refund more than 7000 customers a total of $1.5 million following a probe into its activities by the corporate watchdog.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission says its investigation was triggered by concerns that Nimble was not adhering to responsible lending obligations.
...

EMPLOYERS are being urged to check the pay rates and entitlements that apply to their business over Easter, to avoid having egg on their face with Fair Work.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says most underpayments are inadvertent and the result of employers failing to check their minimum obligations under workplace laws.
"Wheth...

THE Gold Coast investment firm that helped Brisbane-based veterinary company Greencross (ASX:GXL) float on the stock exchange is exploring opportunities as diverse as lithium, coffee and agriculture to uncover the next big deal.
Strategic Equity Alliance, headed by Glenn Gaudet and Justin Broad, has appointed youthful mining industry vete...

TOUGHER lending rules by Australian banks are giving foreign investors an unfair advantage in the property market, according to Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond (pictured).
The finance industry veteran says that while he is comfortable with a broad range of initiatives introduced by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APR...

QUEENSLAND has been urged to snap out of the slump mentality and capitalise on the investment legacy created by the now defunct resources boom.
Deloitte Access Economics' latest Queensland Business Outlook report says instead of looking at the boom as if it is a hole that needs to be filled, the state should be focusing on its traditi...

FEARS of faltering Chinese growth and a global downturn have been downplayed by one economic forecaster who is predicting we are on the verge of a new economic boom, and one that's likely to last for some time.
Dr Frank Gelber (pictured), chief economist with BIS Shrapnel, told a Brisbane briefing this week that the next growth story ...